The inelastic scattering of fast electrons due to interband electron transitions in crystals of Li, Be, Ne, Al, and Cu is examined making use of single atom matrix elements given by Freeman. Values of the Fourier coefficientsVgandVgiof the real and imaginary part of the potential are computed for 100‐kV electrons. It is concluded that while interband transitions may account for an appreciable part of the average absorption due toVoi,Vgiis too small to account for the anomalous absorption effect observed in crystals. The result is in agreement with Yoshioka's conclusion based on the Fermi‐Thomas model.